Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Bird Atlas (HBA) Season 3 has concluded with a record-breaking documentation of 214 bird species and 76,174 individual birds across the city, marking the highest species count recorded so far.
The latest findings highlight Hyderabad’s rich urban biodiversity and the growing impact of systematic, volunteer-driven bird surveys.
Rare and Noteworthy Bird Sightings
Season 3 recorded several rare and significant species, including:
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Long-legged Buzzard
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Nesting pair of Indian Spotted Eagle
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Bonelli’s Eagle
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Eurasian Wryneck
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Red-headed Bunting
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Baillon’s Crake
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Spotted Redshank
Bird watchers noted that species richness has varied across seasons, influenced by seasonal changes and survey coverage.
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Season 1: 195 species documented
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Season 2: 166 species recorded
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Season 3: 214 species (highest so far)
When combined, data from all three seasons show a total of 242 bird species recorded in the Hyderabad landscape.
Indian Roller Shows Seasonal Variation
The Indian Roller, Telangana’s State Bird, showed notable variation across seasons.
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Season 1: 26 Indian Rollers from 22 locations
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Season 2: 4 individuals from 3 locations
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Season 3: 38 individuals from 33 locations
Bird experts said the upcoming Season 4, scheduled during the monsoon of 2026, may provide clearer insights into whether Indian Rollers exhibit seasonal movement between winter and monsoon within the Hyderabad region.
Citizen Science Driving Urban Biodiversity Monitoring
The Hyderabad Bird Atlas is jointly driven by WWF-India, Hyderabad Birding Pals, and Deccan Birders, bringing together conservation organisations and local birding communities.
More than 200 volunteers participated in each of the three seasons, with many consistently contributing across all surveys. Organisers said the initiative has significantly strengthened long-term documentation of birdlife in Hyderabad through structured and community-led biodiversity monitoring.
The completion of Season 3 marks another milestone in tracking urban wildlife trends and fostering public engagement in conservation efforts.
